graft

Graft

A colloquial term referring to the unlawful acquisition of public money through questionable and improper transactions with public officials.

Graft is the personal gain or advantage earned by an individual at the expense of others as a result of the exploitation of the singular status of, or an influential relationship with, another who has a position of public trust or confidence. The advantage or gain is accrued without any exchange of legitimate compensatory services.

Behavior that leads to graft includes Bribery and dishonest dealings in the performance of public or official acts. Graft usually implies the existence of theft, corruption, Fraud, and the lack of integrity that is expected in any transaction involving a public official.

GRAFT. A figurative term in chancery practice, to designate the right of a
mortgagee in premises, to which the mortgagor at the time of making the
mortgage had an imperfect title, but who afterwards obtained a good title.
In this case the new mortgage is considered a graft into the old stock, and,
as arising in consideration of the former title. 1 Ball & Beat. 46; Id. 40;
Id. 57; 1 Pow. on Mortg. 190. See 9 Mass. 34. The same principle has
obtained by legislative enactment in Louisiana. If a person contracting an
obligation towards another, says the Civil Code, art. 2371, grants a
mortgage on property of which he is not then the owner, this mortgage shall
be valid, if the debtor should ever acquire the ownership of, the property,
by whatever right.

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